I recently posted about book clubs in my classroom and have gotten many questions about how I run them on both posts. I am going to try and answer them all here. First and foremost, I try to make Book Clubs as simple as possible. I used to be MUCH more involved in the book ... Read more
Book clubs for middle school and high school have become the new version of literature circles. Book clubs in school represent a more authentic and organic means of literary study because they are more student-directed whereas literature circles are more teacher-directed. Check out this guide with
This is a guide to helping teachers organize and run successful literature circles in their middle school classroom. Lesson plans and tips.
Thirty of the best new and classic middle school and middle grade books with diversity and different genres to add to your or your child's reading list.
What is the purpose of literature circles? How do you structure a literature circle? How long should Literature Circles last? What is the teacher's role in
Looking for a fun and engaging way to get your middle school students talking about their independent reading? No problem! Just download, print, and go! This fun and creative book club unit for middle school readers includes all you need to engage your students in literature-based discussions. This unit is designed for bi-weekly meetings over the course of four weeks. This download includes printable PDF files AND links to copy and edit the resources in your Google Drive. This download includes: a Book Club Contract to ensure all group members take ownership in the book club a Reading Pacing Calendar to help keep your students on track all resources for Book Club/Literature Circle meetings, which include eight creative activities to engage your students in conversations about their books a CCSS-Aligned Rubric to assess your students' participation Special thanks to Lovin Lit and The Hazel Owl for fonts and graphics used on the cover photo! Please follow my store to receive updates on new products and freebies! Also, don't forget to earn your TpT Credits by leaving some feedback. Thank you :)
Read for ways to foster student-led learning, build classroom community, and create excitement around reading with books clubs.
Teachers, set up a reading workshop with your middle school students. Read how: Independent Reading - Simple Tricks for a Successful Reading Workshop
Choose books that have a variety of content and topics to appeal to different student interests and backgrounds. Make sure to give students a variety of choices so they can select something they will enjoy reading.
These 8 great books are perfect for your middle school book club. Your middle school kids will enjoy this variety of titles at book club.
Find good book club books to read for your kids' book clubs! The highly recommended books are good book picks for elementary and middle school.
Getting started with book clubs-made easy! Set routines that will ensure your book clubs will run smoothly through the year.
An updated list of books that includes graphic novels, historical fiction, and more.
Find 10 thought-provoking middle school book club books recommended by two middle school teachers. These books are engaging and relevant to students.
Wanting to revamp your independent reading program? Try using a classroom book club, which is a great way to enrich, engage, and differentiate in secondary.
hold students accountable while they independently read with these easy to implement reading tips and tricks and strategies
Get your students reading with these 11 great middle school books made into movies.
I recently posted about book clubs in my classroom and have gotten many questions about how I run them on both posts. I am going to try and answer them all here. First and foremost, I try to make Book Clubs as simple as possible. I used to be MUCH more involved in the book ... Read more
Book clubs for middle school and high school have become the new version of literature circles. Book clubs in school represent a more authentic and organic means of literary study because they are more student-directed whereas literature circles are more teacher-directed. Check out this guide with
In an effort to battle the idea of book deserts and making sure my classroom library includes all types of books, I have been excited to start graphic novel book clubs this year! This mini-project only takes one week of instruction per class that I teach, and it does not take up the entire day
I have dreamed of creating a middle school poetry unit with lesson plans, tons of reading response examples of poetry analysis, along with a verse novels book club and activities component. I have spent the last month creating this complete middle school poetry reading and writing unit. I have a whole blog post about the ... Read more
I have dreamed of creating a middle school poetry unit. Lesson plans, poetry analysis reading responses, and verse novels book club and activities.
These 8 great books are perfect for your middle school book club. Your middle school kids will enjoy this variety of titles at book club.
In an effort to battle the idea of book deserts and making sure my classroom library includes all types of books, I have been excited to start graphic novel book clubs this year! This mini-project only takes one week of instruction per class that I teach, and it does not take up the entire day for instruction or work. When I wrote a grant in the fall for 100 graphic novels, the mission was simple: use more graphic novels as mentor texts and create small graphic novel book clubs to kids who can share the joy in talking about the same books that they are reading. We see kids naturally want to form book clubs because reading is social, and it makes it so the act of reading can also be less scary. If I am a struggling reader, I find it less intimidating if I have someone else reading with me. Reading is not meant to be an independent experience. Book clubs can be set up in a variety of ways considering materials, time, and accountability. This post outlines how I conducted my mini-project with my sixth-grade students and the considerations that were made for including graphic novels in choice reading time.
Choose books that have a variety of content and topics to appeal to different student interests and backgrounds. Make sure to give students a variety of choices so they can select something they will enjoy reading.
I have dreamed of creating a middle school poetry unit. Lesson plans, poetry analysis reading responses, and verse novels book club and activities.
I have dreamed of creating a middle school poetry unit with lesson plans, tons of reading response examples of poetry analysis, along with a verse novels book club and activities component. I have spent the last month creating this complete middle school poetry reading and writing unit. I have a whole blog post about the ... Read more
January is rolling along and my kids (both my school and actual kids) are finally readjusted to our routine after winter break. While in real life, I find January-March the three most difficult months to
100+ Engaging Books for Middle School is a list of single books as well as series that are reading level and age appropriate for middle school readers.
Create meaningful and successful classroom book clubs in middle and high school by setting expectations and designing a practical schedule.
Want to start a tween book club that kids actually want to be a part of? Check out this ultimate guide with practical tips and suggestions.
January is rolling along and my kids (both my school and actual kids) are finally readjusted to our routine after winter break. While in real life, I find January-March the three most difficult months to
Use informational picture books in your middle or high school classroom. Really.
Get your students reading with these 11 great middle school books made into movies.
It seems stories of survival always peak the interest of young readers. I can't tell you how many times I've encountered reluctant readers in my classroom. Then suddenly, with the right adventure in their hands, they LOVE reading. If you find yourself in the same situation, I'd love for you to try one of the stories below. I've collected 10 of the BEST survival stories for upper elementary students. Check out these classics below! 1. Refugee By: Alan Gratz This novel masterfully weaves the stories of 3 refugee children: a Jewish boy, a Cuban girl, and a Syrian boy. Each story displays the struggles of 20th and 21st century refugees in a powerful way. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 2. A Night Divided By: Jennifer A. Nielsen Gerta’s family wakes up one morning to be divided by the Berlin Wall. For the next few years, the family risks their lives to find a way to reunite. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 3. The War that Saved My Life By: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley This Newberry Honor book is set during WWII. Young Ada is hidden away by her cruel mother because of a “twisted foot.” As the story unfolds, Ada escapes from her mother, learns to trust others, and plays an important role in the war effort. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 4. Esperanza Rising By: Pam Munoz Ryan Esperanza is a young Mexican girl who faces many tragedies and difficulties. But, as her name suggests, she grows and learns to have hope for the future. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 5. Island of Blue Dolphins By: Scott O'Dell Karana lives with her native tribe on a remote Pacific island. When her tribe is forced to flee, Karana notices her brother is missing and stays behind to find him. The scenes that follow are of true strength and determination as the pair survives on the island alone. 6. The Hunger Games By: Suzanne Collins In the ultimate game of survival, Katniss and her peers are forced to fight to the death. But she learns that her fight is not against her competition—it is against something much larger. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 7. The Wild Robot By: Peter Brown Roz is a robot that awakes alone on a deserted island. She learns to survive and learns more about her past while dealing with her harsh surroundings. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 8. Among the Hidden By: Margaret Peterson Haddix In Luke’s world, parents are only allowed to have 2 children. So what is to happen to him—a 3rd child? Follow Luke as he moves from a place of fear and hiding to realization about the world. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 9. Hatchet By: Gary Paulsen Brian, the victim of a plane crash, is alone in the Canadian wilderness. He has nothing but the clothes on his back and a hatchet. Readers watch Brian grow from self-pity to a self-aware survivor. 10. Holes By: Louis Sachar A classic for the middle grades, the main character of this book is Stanley Yelnats. He is mistakenly sent to a camp for troubled boys and finds himself fighting for survival in the desert. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog.
Book clubs for middle school and high school have become the new version of literature circles. Book clubs in school represent a more authentic and organic means of literary study because they are more student-directed whereas literature circles are more teacher-directed. Check out this guide with
Social Justice novels for middle school independent reading, whole class instruction, or literature circles.
Find good books for your middle school students who are reluctant readers, maybe even struggling readers, books that are motivating, some at lower levels.
I just created a resource for middle schoolers and middle school teachers to implement First Chapter Friday in their ELA classrooms.
If you love the idea of book clubs, literature circles are another great way to engage your secondary students in discussion. This post has everything you need to know about creating engaging roles for high school and middle school students. This post also includes distance learning tips for hosting literature circles virtually.
A book pass is the perfect activity to get students hooked on reading! Learn how with The Secret to a Great Book Pass (and 30 Middle School Titles to Use!)
This post contains affiliate links. Middle and high school English teachers, especially those with classroom libraries or an independent reading requirement, have to please a wide variety of student readers. But how do we help the students who lack the interest, time, or motivation to read? I recently asked several English teachers to share fiction titles for reluctant or picky readers that are appropriate for a secondary classroom, and here are the results. Though they vary in terms of being best for middle school, high school, or both, many of these have exciting plots to keep reluctant readers turning the page. Click on the hyperlink of the person recommending the book to read her book review. #1: Ghost Recommended by @secondarysara and @2peasandadog. Link to Amazon. #2: The Poet X Recommended by @nouvelle_ela. Link to Amazon. #3: The Art of Racing in the Rain Recommended by @room213tpt. Link to Amazon. #4: Legend Recommended by @mrsorman. Link to Amazon. #5: The Mortal Coil Recommended by @mrsspanglerinthemiddle. Link to Amazon. #6: The Hate You Give Recommended by @teachbetweenthelines. Link to Amazon. #7: Rebound Recommended by @erinbeers. Link to Amazon. #8: When Recommended by @readingandwritinghaven. Link to Amazon. #9: Ghost Boys Recommended by @elaeveryday. Link to Amazon. #10: Eleanor and Park Recommended by @elaclassroom. Link to Amazon. #11: The Outsiders Recommended by @nowsparkcreativity. Link to Amazon. #12: Boy 21 Recommended by @addiewilliams_tpt. Link to Amazon. #13: Refugee Recommended by @englishteacherbookrecs. Link to Amazon. #14+: The Underland Chronicles, Books #1-5 Recommended by @literarysherri. Link to Amazon. Do you have additional recommendations? Tell us in the comments!
Helpful tips for starting a middle school book club. Book selection, literary analysis & discussion questions. Great for homeschoolers.
